By far the most distinguishing feature for the CasiOak is the octagon-shaped bezel. It’s done in a soft way that’s not too angular or awkward. The GA-2100SU-A1JF is my favorite variation with a screen-printed camouflage pattern on top of the bezel. Fueled by the hashtag, the GA A1 quickly snowballed in social media popularity. By the time that hype-train rolled to a stop, they were all sold out.
But there is certainly more scope to wear this in a business environment. The Rolex GMT-Master II is often seen as ideal “business attire” and yet it is no more g shock watch graceful than this model on the wrist (certainly not the modern versions, that’s for sure). So is this model a more “grown-up” version of the resin model?
And that is just one more reason that, as I type, one hand is currently hovering over the “Buy Now” button. And given that it is priced at $99, I think I’m going to stop writing now and stop hovering. The GA-2100 line g shock protection comes in a thoroughly fashion-conscious color scheme. The G-2100’s water resistance is rated to 200 meters. Casio’s traditional four-screw stainless steel caseback is engraved with the Carbon Core Guard logo.
And perhaps that’s the most important factor of all in explaining the GA-2100’s success. Many of us harbour warm feelings towards the G-Shock because it is a watch we grew up with – possibly, even, the first watch we ever owned. So, a G-Shock that one can wear unironically whether you’re into watches, streetwear or – as is increasingly the case – both?
The carbon-reinforced stainless steel GM-2100 case is 44.4mm wide, 11,8mm thick, and 49.3mm from lug-to-lug. Behind that mineral crystal, you will find an LED light, luminous hour and minute hands and markers, a pointer day indicator, and a digital screen. That digital screen features a 1/100 stopwatch function , a 12/24-hour display, a timer (up to 24-hours), a world timer function, an automatic calendar, and an alarm function . You can move the hands out of the way of the digital display with a simple push of a button. Delivered on a resin strap with a metal buckle, the watch is water-resistant to 200 meters and gives the impression of being so.
This I would wholly support , but if the name G-Shock appears on a watch, I genuinely feel it should be able to do what a G-Shock does. Ever since the first DW-5000C went on sale back in 1983, G-SHOCK has continued to push the limits of timekeeping toughness while creating new and original designs. Greg is a long-time watch lover based in upstate New York. Greg is a supply chain professional by day and private watch consultant by night. Greg brings his own style to the TBWS website as a contributor by blending bits of humor into technical assessments.
With that case shape and integrated bracelet, if you like to wear your watches snug on your wrist, you will need a large wrist not to have this wear slightly loose. For comparison, my wrist is 7.5, and I felt it wore fine, but I do tend to wear my watches on bracelets somewhat looser than my strapped watches. A few other notables include 5611 quartz movement, a resin and carbon composite case, stainless steel case back, super illuminator with Auto Light , and 200-meter water resistant. The digital display is tiny in comparison to other models by Casio – you are not using this easily to track your run times or check the time in Moscow even if it is capable of both. The lume has also decided to take the stealth option, it’s there on the hands but it’s so faint and discreet it might be unnoticed 5 minutes after the light being switched off. The digi display has a light but this has a time limit so you will find yourself pressing it multiple times in order to read anything useful.
Nothing else about the GMAS2100 series has been downsized. It offers the same carbon core guard structure and 5613 movement (with 24-month battery life) as the GA2100. This ana-digi hybrid features world time, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, and five independent alarms. And, like the GA2100, water resistance is rated at 20 bar . These new models inherit the octagon form that was also employed for the original DW-5000C.
The dials share a common design and are uncomplicated with the lower right quarter given over to a digital timekeeping unit and the area around the nine-hour showing the day via a pointer. The analogue hands on both models are large and lume coated. I found the digital functions such as world time, stopwatch, and timer useless. The screen is so small that it’s impossible to read while running. It’s so small that Casio used a trick by tapping the “C & B” buttons to temporarily rotate the hands out of the way.
They are aimed at women but will also appeal to anyone who wants a less bulky, beach-ready watch . One of the occasional hazards of writing about watches is desperately wanting to buy any and every timepiece that excites you. A slide lever makes it easy to attach and remove the band — a very handy feature for cleaning and other maintenance.
My model is a rather unusual unsanctioned limited edition of 50 pieces created by @lpedits. However, it gave me an insight into the wearing experience of a Casioak in resin and, I must say with my hand on my heart, I prefer it to the many G-Shock squares I own . The whole dial is protected by a mineral crystal which has no obvious AR coating and probably will scratch in time but still affords 200m of water resistance. Those who need a more legible LCD display might choose another G-Shock, but they will have to choose between an all-digital or a bigger analog-digital model. Realistically, it’s a great everyday watch, if only to tell the time.